The Beautiful 1920s House of a Swedish Creative

Is it just me, or is the week moving at an alarming rate? If you feel like taking a breather with me, come and enjoy this beautiful Gothenburg home for a moment! It belongs to Swedish graphic designer, artist and photographer Cecilia Hedin (see her former home here), sambo (meaning 'live-in partner') Johan, their baby Björn and dog Bertil. Built in the 1920s, every room has been painted in a different colour - from a deep, luxurious green to soft blues and warm greige and they've also made use of some fabulous wallpaper, and yet there's a wonderful flow to the space. Cecilia's friends Alice Johansson and Johanna Bradford paid a visit and snapped these lovely pics. Välkommen in!

Kitchen cabinets painted in NORDSJÖ simplicity greige and wall panels in the same shade by 40% lighter. 

A circular table and series of Mogensen J39 chairs are surrounded by geraniums for a wonderful 'winter garden' feel! 

This is the kind of 'snug' you can imagine the family spending the lion's share of their time in. I love the classic Jetson chair and indoor climber. And that rustic wood wall adds so much character to the space too, don't you think?!

Sitting room painted in Farrow & Ball Oval Room Blue

This Blackthorne wallpaper by William Morris is so pretty!

Bannisters painted in Farrow & Ball Estate Eggshell

Source vintage botanical prints like these here*.

This lovely desk area reminds me a lot of the home office in their former apartment. The walls have been decorated in luxurious yet calm Chicken Coop by Alcro. Source a vintage architect's desk like this one here*. 

Björn's room has been partly decorated in Jimmy Cricket Woodland wallpaper in charcoal.

So fun with the vintage gymnastics equipment (source similar here*), don't you think?! Although not vintage, my daughter has a set of wooden gymnastics rings in her room and she absolutely loves them - she even gets ready for bed hanging upside down (you can imagine how long that takes *rolls eyes*!)! Rattan lounge chair from Tine K Home.

If I was merely considering adding more colour to my home before, I'm fully committed after seeing these pictures. It's also amazing how much the right wallpaper can transform a room too - Björn's room is just lovely!

Are you tempted to add more colour / wallpaper to your home too?

If you love Cecilia's home you'll also love her online shop where she sells her photography, art and badges (the latter of which remind me a little of our time in the Lake District, England as a child - my sister had a ton of badges showing all the fells she'd conquered - me, not so many!).  

Other inspiring Swedish homes with plenty of colour and pattern include Johanna Bradford's former home, an eclectic 19th century Swedish house and snapshots from Ida's vintage-inspired home in Dalarna. Oh and there's actually an entire archive dedicated to 'decorating with wallpaper' too! 

Do you have a favourite wallpaper?

Ha så bra! 

Niki

Photography: Alice Johansson. Styling: Johanna Bradford. 

Affiliate links marked with *

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10 Ways To Add Instant Warmth To Your Home

It seems having a cat is fast becoming a key criterion to appearing on My Scandinavian Home (or at least, that's how it feels right now!!). Maybe it's subliminal (I'd love a cat, as you know!) or maybe it's just that cats seem to add instant warmth a space. Fortunately for those without a feline friend there are plenty of other ways we can create a super mysigt (cosy) home. Take a peek at the lovely home of Josy Chen as an example. Josy lives in Ahaus, Germany with her boyfriend Timo and eight-year-old daughter Nele (OK, yes, she also has a cat named Cookie, but that's by the by - or, is it?!). Laid out over two floors, the apartment has a relaxed, contemporary bohemian vibe which makes you want to crawl through the pictures and chill out with a cup of tea. If you feel your home is lacking a little warmth right now, here are ten instant ideas to steal! 

1. Go eclectic: mix and match style and materials. Josy's home works because she keeps to a brownish colour scheme.

2. Go comfy: Swap out a dining chair for a sofa or nook  - so that the kitchen table becomes somewhere you could sit for hours!

The wooden shelf was made by Josy's boyfriend Timo / HERRBERT.

3. Rattan: the modern boho look owes itself partly to the 1970's revival. If you lived through the 70's you might completely balk at the idea of rattan - just like I do over hair scrunchies from the 80's (scrunchies are a thing in Sweden right now and my daughters love them! The only saving grace is that they've stopped stealing all my hairbands). Fortunately, rattan has been given a cool and contemporary update and adds a relaxed feel to any space (whether you're on a high or low budget!).

4. 3D wall decor: Shake up your walls by adding mobiles (this one was made by Jose and Timo), wooden sculptures, mirrors and wall hangings. They'll add interest and depth to the room and help create a homely atmosphere.

5. Plants on all levels: nothing says modern boho like an urban jungle, right?! Think about dotting plants throughout your home using plant stands, windowsills, baskets and hanging planters. Anything goes, you just need to keep them alive!

6. Pile up the cushions: as you know I've been banned from buying anymore cushions / pillows (unofficially the collection is still growing, of course!). Why? Because cushions are a perfect way to add to the relaxed feel of a space. Mix and match earthy colours, texture and pattern. 

Art from Honigbaum, wall hanging by Wednesday Weaving (love this shop!), string shelves*

7. Art: trawl local galleries and online shops to give your home a unique and personal artistic touch (I've promised myself this is the year I start to invest in oil paintings, illustrations and sculptures by local artists). If you're looking for wonderful ways to display art - try the Danish home archive, they are masters! 

8. Vintage finds - a vintage piece like a rattan chair (there's a beautiful vintage one* available here right now!) adds instant warmth and personality to a space.

9. Wood: nature nourishes the mind - bringing natural materials with a beautiful patina like wood indoors gives a living space soul. 

10. Kilim rugs - seek out patterned rugs with warm earthy tones - the more worn the better! 

So, if you're feeling your home is currently 'too cold' and you're missing that je ne sais quoi - the chances are could just add even one of these elements and it will make a difference!

Is there any other decor you feel adds instant cosiness to a space?

I'm thinking photos, items collected on travels etc.

See more of Josy's charming home on instagram here.

Have a relaxing day!

Niki

Photography Josy Chen shared with kind permission

PS I'm excited to see a load of new room designs taking shape in the My Scandinavian Home Studio right now. If you're stuck and would love us to help you just give us a shout - we're currently offering 20% off with the code MYNEWROOM. More info about the service and sign-up here. 

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